Top 10 Getaway for Family Togetherness - Great Wolf Lodges

FTF's Top 10 Getaways honored the Great Wolf indoor waterpark hotels as a "Top Resort Chain for Family Togetherness" in 2005, and they're better than ever.

FTF celebrated the 8th annual Top 10 Getaways awards by acknowledging the latest trend -- family-together vacations. We honored hospitality, timeshare and eco-tourism businesses that have made it possible for families to stay, play, relax, and learn together in a creative and enriching atmosphere.

Great Wolf Lodges, North America
800/559-WOLF

Indoor water parks are naturally family-family.  Great Wolf Lodge took this concept and ran with it when they decided to market to families with children 2 to 14-years-old living within driving distance of their many locations.  As of 2009, visitors from near and far can enjoy Great Wolf Lodges  -- each of which has been eco-certified with a Green Seal for sustainable environmental practices -- in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin; Sandusky, Ohio; Traverse City, Michigan; Kansas City, Kansas; Williamsburg, Virginia; the Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania; Niagara Falls, Ontario; Mason, Ohio; Grapevine, Texas; Grand Mound, Washington and Concord, North Carolina.

The latest property slated to open in 2011, is a Great Wolf Lodge in Garden Grove, California’s International West Resort near Disneyland. Plans call for a full-service, family destination resort with 600 suites, meeting space, a 100,000-square-foot indoor water park and additional indoor entertainment areas and amenities. Each of the current Great Wolf Lodges has a Northwoods Camp design, with rustic and whimsical touches that make for the most comfortable family “camping trip” ever.

Family togetherness and year-round water play distinguish the Great Wolf Lodge vacation, in keeping with the company's stated mission: “Create Family Traditions One Family at a Time.” Each property includes a 34,000-to 82,000-square-foot indoor water park, always heated to the tropical temperature of 84° F (29° C). Multiple slides and pools, totem poles, a lazy river, wave pool and squirting and splashing water make up the landscape, which centers on the four-story Fort Mackenzie, a play area that periodically dumps huge buckets of water.

Toddlers have their own zero entry pool, while water gymnasts and basketball players have their own areas as well.  Everyone wears bathing suits, but landlubbers will find plenty of seating and snack bars.  There are always certified lifeguards and attendants at every attraction, because safety is a number one concern.

Family activities at Great Wolf Lodges go beyond the wet and wild, however.  Wiley’s Woods is an interactive arcade game center dispensing redeemable prize tickets.  The Cub Club is an on-site activity center where parents are not just encouraged, but required, to attend, and the club offers daily take-away crafts.  The resorts’ wolf and bear mascots join locals for bedtime storytelling in the lobby. 

As part of its environmental initiatives, the resort chain's Project Green Wolf includes children’s environmental learning programs, developed in partnership with National Geographic Kids. There are active learning areas, a Green Wolf TV in-room channel, and interactive Web content, all dedicated to teaching kids how to be kind to the environment.

Seasonal celebrations include carol sing-a-longs, holiday card writing, and visits with Santa around Christmastime.  Each resort makes local sights, shopping and natural attractions accessible, but not babysitting.  No matter what the time of year, “We really encourage our families to do things together, to be sort of a wolf pack,” notes one resort executive.

The wolf pack theme continues in the variety of lodging and dining opportunities.  Each all-suite property features 270 to 400 “dens,” with microwave, a fridge and sitting area.  These range from Family Fireplace Suites to KidCabin Suites with bunk beds in semi-private sleeping areas themed like trees, tents and bear caves.  Hungry families can hit fun theme restaurants like the Camp Critter Bar and Grill or Bear Claw Café ice cream parlor, which of course have a plethora of kid-friendly options. For parents who want to take turns at pampering, most Wolf Lodges have an on-property Aveda Spa.

Suites sleeping a family of four with bunk beds run in the $200 and up range, though specials for fall 2010 can be as low as $99 per night, including water park admission.  Cribs are available free of charge and toddlers under 2 enter the waterpark for free.  Add-on packages are also available depending on season; check the website for pricing.